A day treatment program in a therapeutic community setting: six-month outcomes. The Walden House Day Treatment Program

J Subst Abuse Treat. 1995 Nov-Dec;12(6):441-7. doi: 10.1016/0740-5472(95)02021-7.

Abstract

Although not well represented in the literature, day treatment programs targeting substance abuse problems have increased in both number and acceptability in recent years. This article reports on a day treatment program based on the Therapeutic Community (TC), and on outcomes for a sample of substance abuse clients (n = 66) entering the program. Participants were interviewed early in treatment and 6 months after admission using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and other measures. Clients entering day treatment were demographically diverse, with serious substance-abuse problems and psychiatric morbidity. Median retention in day treatment was about 5 weeks, but many clients received a contiguous episode of residential treatment, so that the median for total time in treatment was 18 weeks. Clients located and interviewed at 6-month follow-up (n = 38) showed significant improvement in alcohol and drug use, legal and social problems, and psychiatric symptoms. Findings suggest that day treatment can be used effectively as a precursor to residential treatment and that some clients applying for residential treatment can be treated effectively in day treatment alone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • California
  • Cohort Studies
  • Day Care, Medical*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Dropouts
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Therapeutic Community*
  • Treatment Outcome